Iraqi parliament to approve new cabinet

The parliament will vote on a list of 42 ministers and other top government posts at noon, according to speaker Osama al- Nujaifi, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqia parliamentary bloc which won the most seats in the March 7 elections.

"The parliament received the program and the names nominated for 42 ministers and top cabinet posts," Nujaifi told a joint news conference with Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki held late on Monday night after meeting in Baghdad's Green Zone.

"Maliki has met his obligation (to designate Iraq's new cabinet) within the constitutional period (of 30 days)," Nujaifi said after he received the nominated names.

Nujaifi also said that some of the cabinet line up are acting ministers, including security portfolios, but he expressed his hope that they will be filled soon by permanent ministers.

Maliki was expected to reveal his national unity cabinet on Monday's parliament session, but disputes with political blocs delayed the announcement, but late Monday surprisingly he visited the speaker in the parliament and submitted his cabinet line.

On November 25, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani formally asked Maliki to form the country's next government after the rival political blocs approved earlier a power-sharing deal that ended the eight-month political deadlock.

According to the Iraqi constitution, Maliki has to pick his cabinet within 30 days after his official nomination as PM- designate by the president.

The prime minister-designated new government and its programs will have to win the approval of an absolute majority of the members of the Council of Representatives, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com for full version